AUDIO: McConnell Explains How He'd Force A Shutdown War With Obama

[DonViejo]

Source: TPM

By SAHIL KAPUR Published AUGUST 27, 2014, 9:25 AM EDT

Updated: 10:25 AM

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) explained his plan to use a government shutdown as a bargaining chip against President Barack Obama to a room full of wealthy conservatives two months ago, according to audio obtained by The Nation magazine.

"So in the House and Senate, we own the budget. So what does that mean? That means that we can pass the spending bill. And I assure you that in the spending bill, we will be pushing back against this bureaucracy by doing what's called placing riders in the bill. No money can be spent to do this or to do that. We're going to go after them on health care, on financial services, on the Environmental Protection Agency, across the board. ... All across the federal government, we're going to go after it," McConnell said at a private summit hosted by the Koch Brothers.

The strategy mirrors what House Republicans did last year: they passed on a "rider" to defund Obamacare in a must-pass spending bill, and it led to the 16-day partial shutdown. But the bill died in the Democratic-led Senate, and Republicans eventually reopened the government and funded Obamacare.

McConnell is suggesting that if Republicans control the Senate, they'll have a stronger negotiating hand to force Obama to swallow some concessions.

-snip-


Read more: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/dc/mitch-mcconnell-audio-government-shutdown

[gordianot]

1. Mitch upset someone in the room.

They just did not have the nerve to refute Mitch with words.

[jollyreaper2112]

2. just once I'd like to see obama nut up

No more Mr. Nice Guy, no more acting like he wants to keep access to the insider's club after he's out of office. I want to see him go after them hammers and tongs, no quarter. Just absolutely drive some nails into a baseball bat and start swinging. Oh, that's the game you guys are playing? I can go at it harder and longer than you. I'm serious. Get the dirt. Who are they fucking, who's bribing them, what dirt do they think is hidden? Destroy these assholes, professionally, personally, utterly.

But he won't. He'll follow Clinton's playbook. Republicans hit Clinton below the belt and he kept it above. He never even really tried to fight back. He made his two terms and sauntered out of office and into the insider's club. Good game, everyone. We know it's all part of the job. Nothing personal.



I want to see him make it personal. I know he won't but I can still dream.

[yuiyoshida]

3. You know.. maybe the Elephant shouldn't have

symbolized the Republican party, maybe IT should have been THE ASS. As for what we should have taken.. I don't know... But the Republican party is filled with Asshats.

[Fred Sanders]

4. Breaking News Alert! There will be no breaking news about this in the corporate media, which had

observer status at this gathering of fascists and Birchers.

[SoapBox]

7. Yup.

Sickening that "they" are all in it together.

[Doctor_J]

5. Anyone else think it's time to have it out with these traitors and psychopaths?

I for one believe it is time for the DC dems to say, "We are done giving in. There will be no more backtracking. So when your SS checks don't arrive, it's Mitch McConnell's fault - in fact he's bragging about it. the days of giving in to domestic terrorists are over".

Bullies only respond to being hit back.

[tartan2]

6. Oh such sweet fresh meat

for Alison Grimes to use against Mitchie boy! Go get him girl!! Come on Kentucky aren't you tired of Mitchie boy doing for the 1%!

[CJCRANE]

8. Shut it down.

Then turn it back on again.

That usually does the trick.

[LoisB]

9. Go ahead, shut it down; then STFU. Turtle should probably wait to see if he's even

in the Senate before he starts talking about what he will do.

[sakabatou]

10. Of course he would

[rickyhall]

11. The turtle would make an ok mascot

Slow moving, slow thinking, behind the rest of world.